4th Melanoma found after skin check
Hi everyone, so pre my bc journey I have had 3 melanoma. I had my first melanoma at 38, 2nd one at 39 and 3rd at 49. These were caught reasonably early so no further treatment but pretty big scars. I ...
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There seems to be a link between melanoma and bc! My story is that in March 2016 I had a large spot on my right arm, and was diagnosed with melanoma in situ, and I had it removed but also they didn't get the margins so went in again and got clearer margins. My doctor then recommended I have an ultrasound on the right arm pit just to be sure, and the result was nothing sinister, and nothing in the lymph nodes in that arm.
I have a 7 cm scar from the removal of the melanoma on my right arm!
Fast forward another 8 months in November (today is my 5 year mark), and was diagnosed with aggressive breast cancer and already in the lymph nodes on my right armpit. This is how fast this mongrel can travel to the lymph nodes, and my doctor was truly amazed at the fast progression, even though it was already in the right breast for who knows how long, but not there 2 years previously with my regular mammogram.. I ended up being HER2 positive with Stage 3, Grade 2/3 on the right breast, then they did more tests and found on the left I had DCIS, with ER positive, so I ended up having the "works"... surgery but just lumpectomies, and full lymph node clearance on right, and 6 removed on the left armpit, and 6 months chemo, herceptin continued on for a year, radiotherapy for 6 weeks both breasts, and still on AI's until end of next year at least. I had 2 lymph nodes detected with cancer on the right side.
But today I celebrate my 5 year mark.. I was diagnosed 23 November 2016.. so a celebration is in order. I wish all of us well, because we have been through the mill, I still have not fully moved forward, but that is OK, i am just being kind to myself and not placing too many expectations on myself. Take care everyone. xx
I have a 7 cm scar from the removal of the melanoma on my right arm!
Fast forward another 8 months in November (today is my 5 year mark), and was diagnosed with aggressive breast cancer and already in the lymph nodes on my right armpit. This is how fast this mongrel can travel to the lymph nodes, and my doctor was truly amazed at the fast progression, even though it was already in the right breast for who knows how long, but not there 2 years previously with my regular mammogram.. I ended up being HER2 positive with Stage 3, Grade 2/3 on the right breast, then they did more tests and found on the left I had DCIS, with ER positive, so I ended up having the "works"... surgery but just lumpectomies, and full lymph node clearance on right, and 6 removed on the left armpit, and 6 months chemo, herceptin continued on for a year, radiotherapy for 6 weeks both breasts, and still on AI's until end of next year at least. I had 2 lymph nodes detected with cancer on the right side.
But today I celebrate my 5 year mark.. I was diagnosed 23 November 2016.. so a celebration is in order. I wish all of us well, because we have been through the mill, I still have not fully moved forward, but that is OK, i am just being kind to myself and not placing too many expectations on myself. Take care everyone. xx